'A Pack of Wolves' exhibit reception today at 5 p.m. in Beverly

Thursday

Jan 10, 2013 at 12:01 AMJan 10, 2013 at 10:14 AM

Montserrat College of Art presents Pack of Wolves, a solo exhibition of Jenn Houle’s recent works in the 301 Gallery now through Jan. 18. There will be a reception Thursday, Jan. 17, 5-8 p.m., with performance by Opal Puckett.

Montserrat College of Art presents Pack of Wolves, a solo exhibition of Jenn Houle’s recent works in the 301 Gallery now through Jan. 18. There will be a reception Thursday, Jan. 17, 5-8 p.m., with performance by Opal Puckett.

Researching the greater life cycles that occur on our planet, Houle illustrates the transfer of energy through organisms with paint, collage and sculptural installation. The creatures in Houle’s Animal Eats series (2011) literally are what they eat. Houle’s portraits of animals are built out of the plants and animals they digest, transferring identity from one living organism to another. In her Animal Herds series (2012), Houle collages a group of life sized wolves directly onto the wall with small and incrementally layered pieces of painted vellum.

“I seek to better understand and accept my own mortality by researching the greater life cycles that occur on our planet and to understand my existence as a single organism that helps to sustain this cycle,” Houle says. “After extensive research into behavior, diet and anatomy, I playfully reorganize my perception of these animals (through) organic and interpretative drawing.”

Houle has exhibited at many Boston galleries, including Lincoln Arts Project, Cavity Lab, Yes.Oi.Si and The Lilypad. Houle recently completed residencies at Vermont Studio Center and Voices of the Wilderness Prince William Sound in Alaska. In 2007, she received a BFA from Massachusetts College of Art. She lives and works in Jamaica Plain.